The Waikato Times

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1291, 7 October 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1880.

The inconsistency of New Zealand colonists is forcing itself upon public attention, and the Christchurch Press has a very sensible article upon the subject. Our Southern contemporary points out how exceedingly thin-skinned the people of this country are with respect to outside criticism, whilst at the very same time they stick at nothing in their own strictures upon the state of affairs around them. They declare to one another, and they cry aloud in the market place, at meetings of " unemployed," and so forth, that the colony is dead broke, that immigrants are attracted here by fraud, only to starve when they arrive, and that those who are responsible for representing New Zealand as a flourishing place ought to be hanged by the heels, or otherwise remonstrated with. They gather together in great numbers to dc-

ifqplrifl|ffflie taxpglon, wjhjih thfey say thej^PSnnot pojjplnly t&sty, aricj^they ' jauntily piss resolutions pledging themselves to resist to the uttermost the pay menthol, this, tha<j, pi; the other tax. I- • flir'dugh"' : the columns of the newspapers, they howl at the low price of produce to sell arid' the 1 high price of food to btry ;- at> th« -difficulty of* finding ■Hemployiviejit, except, at Gjqvernmqnt 'wages $ at the r! hftrdship of hungry and thirsty .men being compelled to live on three o^eal^,a day and only have a shilling or two over for beer ; at the tyranny of the Government in not providing everybody fribe gratjs-, .witty , a smiling, ; and,! geijdrjajtiy, qfi tt4 ini^Jsft sjfferinsf and privation involved in life in New Zealand 1880. Certainly, a stronger reading only the reports of public meetings and newspaper articles and correspondence would inevitably come to the conclusion that this colony was" a dreary wilderness/ in ths last, stage of poverty anc} decay, infested, rather than inhabited, by a gaunt population of broken spirited, despairing sppctres. But let a hint of this kind of thing appear in one of +he London papers ! Let the Pall Mall Gatette ever so guardedly or good naturedly suggest that the colony's finances are not quite what they ought to be, and that £3 8s per head per annum is rather too much for the colonists to pay for interest on the public debt ; let an extract from a private letter from some unsuccesful settler, giving a bad account of the colony to his friends at Home be published in a corner of the Times ; let an article appear in the Daily News even reproducing the contents of New Zealand papers, as a warning to emigrants not to go to an over-croweded labor , njarket; then what a fuss there is directly. The colony is libelled, slandered, defamed. Its credit — its credit, God help us! —is in danger of being shaken, if not utterly destroyed by gross misrepresentation. Capital is being diverted from it. Population is being driven away. The Press writing of the various means proposed to put the colony right in the eyes of the British public says :— " What do the British public care about our climate, scenery, resources, and all the rest of the penny peep-show that we hawk about so industriously % The question with them is, " Can you pay your debts V It does not matter a snuff to them whether we have spent the" money they lent us on railways and immigrants or on jews' harps and sugar candy. That is our business. Their only anxiety is to receive their interest punctually, and to get a good price for their bonds if they want to sell them ; and all the information that is likely to 'effect them in any way, ia to be found in the official papers published by the Government. In short any " careful and accurate account"of the position of the colony would be a precious poor recommendation of it just now, even if it bore the radiant signature of the Angel Gabriel himself." Our own idea is that the colony got into the most horrible mess, in spite of being puffed presistently for years to such a fulsome excess as to make any honest colonist siclc ; and that it is not likely to suffer much by a little detraction now. The best way to furnish the British public with an account of the position of the colony, which will do the colony good, is to improve that position until a careful and accurate account is really a favorable one. The British public will find it out quickly enough when that is the case, firstly r by the Government of the colony meeting their engage ments promptly, and, secondly, by the colonists paying their Avay and doing business on satisfactory terms with the mother country.

TnERE is a law existent in the Colony called the Tippling Act, which opens the door to much dishonesty. It is not a colonial enactment, but an old English statute, 24 Geo, 11., Cap 40, which has, together with the Common and Statute law of England been included in the law of New Zealand so far as they are applicable to the circumstances of the Colony. Our legislators have not been, as a rule, distinguished for any brilliancy of talent, but to do them justice they never passed such a foolish, such an unfair law a§ that which the mother country Has foisted upon us. Its effect is to take away from hotel-keepers the right of recovering the value of goods supplied, which is enjoyed by every other trade in the catalogue. A man may run up a score in a public-house to any extent, and, providing he keeps in his dealings r. to spirituous liquors, he is not bound to pay for what he has had. It may very reasonably be said that under certain circumstances the law in its operation is wholesome, but regarded generally it is so manifestly unfair, that we wonder no steps have been taken with the object of amending it. It may be very justly argued that publicans ought to be deprived of the privilege of recovering the price of drinks supplied to a person in a state of liquor, and therefore incapable of realising the extent of the liability which he is incurring ; but there are other means of meeting such a contingency, and it seems absurd to keep on the statute book an Act intended ; originally, no doubt, to operate in such cases, but which, under the j altered condition of things, has quite another effect. It provides i a means, indeed, for deliberate fraud ; i

,forno.ofcher name can bo .applied to in which a person puttchases bottled spirits for removal and refuses to pay for them. The only sa^g^u/ird which the publican has agains't'impbs'ition of this kind, and we rejoice that it is a strong one, lies in the fact that none but the meonest of, mankind will shelter themselves behind such a fence as the. Tippling Art. The majority, evejL of those whose weakness has delivered them over a prey to the damnable glass, have too much manliness, too much inborn British honesty, to allow of their sinking so low as tltat. We could forgive a drunkard more easily than a rogue, and would not grudge him a warm place in our heart did not drunkenness itself smooth the way to dishonesty. There is dishonesty and dishonesty \ that which shelters itself behind the law of the land is something 'worse ; it is dishonesty and meanness combined, and is the very essence of degradation. Within our recollection there have been several cases in which the Tippling Act has been pleaded, but few that present worse features than that heard at the Hamilton R.M. Court yesterday. The rebuke contained in the admirable remarks which His Worship addressed to the defendant were no less just than severe, and we heartily endorse them. Our worthy Magistrate is a veritable bugbear to wrong-doers and a hearty hater of all cupidity and meanness, ai^Jl if he cannot always make the law the servant of justice he does notlallow the offender to escape flattered by the consciousness that the full extent of his duplicity is undiscovered. Such exposures, if they bring no immediate, tangible punishment with them, are not unproductive ; they act as deterrents to others at any rate, and that is the real object of English justice.

The result of the meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board yesterday, telegraphed by our own correspondent, will be read with feelings of gratification all over this | district. The decision arrived at by the Board at their meeting on Thursday must, if carried out, have had the effect of keeping away from the country the desirable class of settlers which Messrs Grant and Foster are about to introduce here ; and we are glad, therefore, to find that the members have, in accepting the valuation of Mr Percy Smith, met Captain Steele half way. The importance of the arrangement entered into between the parties cannot be over-estimated : lands which for years have been lying waste will in all probability before long be handed over to tho civilising influences of agriculture, and a fresh impetus given to the progress of the whole Provincial District.

The Honorable James Williamson purposes placing trout in the Kavapiro River, at Cambridge. The fish may be expected daily.

The Kirikiriroa Road Board is probably the only one which has adhered to the hy.stem of employing 1 surfacemen, and the consequence is that much money has been saved to the district. For more than two years the Board has given regular employment to two daymen, and many little jobs have boeu prevented from growing into big ones by th"ir exertions. Other Boards, would do well to take a leaf out of Kirikiriroa 1 s book.

The old drain near the Council Chambers, Hamilton, hass now been filled up and the water from the we>t side of the street finds it way through the pipes laid lower down.

The Cambridge Road from Leslie's to Martyns i-> in anything but a bafcisfactoiy state. Some two years ago the members of the Highway Board considered they wero doing rather a good thiug in laying the sand for it is not gravel — on the side of the road, and thu-. providing ;tt once summer and winter thoroughfares. Had the met tl .shown uny inuicutious of setting all might be well, but to this day it remains in the same condition as when laid down liable to be blown about by every wind, and soft and unpleasant to travel on. The consequence is that the traffic even in winter is ino&tly over the ungravelled portion, people prefering the mud to the deep sand. Cannot something be done to remedy this state of things during tlio .summer:'

The willows planted along the foreshore by the Ngaruawahia Town Board, are sprouting out m a very gratifying manner, and in a year or two will be well-rooted trees. It ia a pity that the wisdom of this proceeding lias not boon earlier and more generally perceived in the Waikato.

A meeting of the "band committee in connection with the Hamilton Light Infantry Corps wa.s held last night at (J Wynne's Hotel. Several mi|>ortant matters were discussed as regards the future band mister of the corps the result of which will be made uuown in the course of a few days.

Lawn Tennis is now the order of the day in. Hamilton.

Messrs. Livingstone and Booth the successful tenderers fo.i the works at Crawforda Gully in the Tam^here Highway Board proceeded to tho scene of operations on Monday. It is intended that they shall offer every facility to the travelling public during the progress of the work by keeping the thoroughfara open but it is necessary that anyor-e pasBing that way should exercise the greatest care to prevent accidents.

In order to facilitate communication between the river and the Home .Station, Mr Firth is erecting a telephone from Matamata and Stanley.

The little town of Huntley is making progress in the building line. Mr L. B. Harris, the enterprising proprietor of the Coal Mines Hotel, is erecting a large addition to his house, consisting of a bar, with a large frontage to the Kailway Station, two parlors, and several bedrooms, while Mr Blinko is putting up a butcher's shop only a few yards away. Although consequent on the change in the season, the demand for coal is not so brisk a 9 it was a month or two ago trade is, we understand, by no means dull.

Messrs Coombes and Coleman have moved gut to oanip on the site of their contract on. th<i Truraway Boad, noav Ilinlon's Gully, to effect corainunicatlfin at that poiuc between the Tanvifyero DieI fcrict and the I'iako Road. Captain Ruuci-

m:in Wuito^on the Kirikiriroa, Bjini yesterday with a view tp tfettiu''- lluit Boird to contribute to.wrrtrds the co-t of t.!io bridjre. Tlie Boird, however, jilondod th.tl" in Ihe pio^cnh Irvv Bt.<ite of their funds they cnuld not tihw.st. r.hfv h.ive then* hards full to construct their own ro.id-", but doubtless win n moio l>iosp'Toiis tnniM mi ri\ c, thej r will see tin ir wiiv to ie!id"i n > -si-.t,uH i o.

The Cambridge Cricket Club may no .v be sii<l to hive t.irly Limn hod it" srMFon. On Saturday a -'wod muster appeared on flic ground ;m I a scratch match resulted iti exhibttinir smie fair cri«,k"t. The Club with practice should turn out a team to favour ihly vie with tho other W.ukato Clubs find it. is to be hoped that members will take suiHoient inteivst to do so. Next Saturday an eleven will play 22 of Cambridge colts in a paddock kindly lont by A. A. Fantham Esq. It ha 3 been augo-psted that all township clubs in the Wdikato should .sub'-ciibe .say ton shillings or one pound each tor the puruh.ibe of a cup and a series of cup matches be instituted. Tlli3 should be taken up.

The member for the East Coast (Allan MacDonall Esq.,) has his own notions on the Educatio i System. At his meeting with his constituents the other day, in reply to a question asked as to Mr MsicDon ikl's views on the educ itlon question, lip explaiued th.it he was opposed to the present system inasmuch as it bore tqu illy upon tho^e who derived benefits the system and tho>e who no ben'-'fit. The poor man had vi contribute to the State as much as the rich. Iv illustration of this Mr MacDon&ld mentioned u gentlem,m in Gisborne, in receipt of a l.irgo salary, who, under the exi.sfiug- system, neefl pay no more for the edw-ation of his children than the poorest man in the plane. Mr Mac-Donald thought that there should be an inspector whose duty it should b<> to ascertain the pirents who were and were not able to ply for the education of their children.

The Cambridge Domain Board have been plotted to gran Sj acres of the Domaiu next to Mr J. Sharp's, mu-soiy-m;in and thr> Hamilton road, to the Cambridge Cricket and Football Club.. It will 100 used fo r tLe AnMt.Pur Athletic club meetings intl a running rink is piv.posed to bp laid do vu l A mooting of the .several clubs will shoitlv be held when a committee or tiuatoe will he appointed to draw up tu'e* for the working of thf> ground winch if judiciously man.iprcd will tnake one of the finest recreation grounds iv the province. Trees will be planted, and se:its arranged for the convenience of the public around the ground, and in a fey years the entrance to Cambridge will Ix* such to delight the eve of every arrival It need sc lively be mentioned that every cricketer and athlete will foel truly gratefui to the c hairin.iri of the Board and his colleagues tor arrmtinir a ground th.it will in all p;obability fiom it-> cential position be the scene of some of the Waikato's greatest athletic carnivals

Mr W. C. Breakoll, engineer, inspected Sydney Square nn Tueoday, and found that there were several irregularities, and Mr Lovett has been &ent lor to complete the \\ or k on belnlf oi the contractors. In a few days all that is necessary will be done, and the laud will then be sown down to grass. We would remind the public that the square is not a public thoroughfare, and consequently horsemen and A'ehielcs ha\ c no nyht over it. It is, oi coui'se, open to foot passengers, but it is hoped that suoh ay ill .see the necessity for ceasing to make a thoroughfare across it until the ground has fairly settled.

The third section of the Hamil-ton-Whatawhata road is now completed, so far as the contractors aio concjrned, with the exception ot a couple of days' work trimming up. The JSngmccv ha-s been over the contract and expre^od lna satisfaction with the way everything has been carried out. It would perhaps lie well if the members of the Board made a personal inspection of the road, with the view of forming an idea as to what remains to be done in order to its completion.

A telegram received by the Sy?>n >/ Jla>l from London, dated September 10th, states that Edward Tnekctt lias temporarily suspended training for the forthcoming match with Hudan, aud has gone to Newcastle, for the purpose of fetching his boat. Although the preparations For the m itch art attracting considerable .ittention m spoitmg circles, the amount of betting on tho event is as yet veiy limited, the men not being sufficiently alvanced in training to admit a fair judgment beina: formed. Trickett and Liycock are both at Newcastle, and on .September nth they rowed togathn* over tlm u i ual racing course on the Tyne. The perform mces of botli men were clr^ly Avatche i by a large number of spactatcs, iind their style and pace were geneially considered to be faulty and to show tho want of training. A Liter wire spates that Edwaid Han la u reached Qneen^town on the 14th »Septeml>'ir ]>y tlie disibled steamer City of Richmond, and he m doubt ]>y this time ha^ made Ins way to the Thames. We may soon expect to hear tho state of the betting on the gieat match with Trickett, but sis yet we have heard of no wagers wotth speaking of.

The B">/ <>f p/.-Hh, Tnu'i says :-We suppose the old adage, tit i ni<> t nftts, e\> plaius the f.iot th.it the choquos of a oertam well- known gentlemm living not a hundred miles from T\iur<ui<M, ,110 ;il\v,ivi refused by thr> 13 ink as not continuum hi'pioper sign.ituie, ox(/>pt tlio^e Mgaed by liim when under the influenco of dunk. Ie appe us that wlipii the yentlem.iti iecordod his si^-jiature iv the B>nk hooks on opening hiB account he was moie that, half lull, and the difference l)et\vccu his writing iv his sober senses and that whon in drink iti so srrcat that they would not be known to be by the s.nne person. This little matter has been productive of .1 irood deal of inconvenience to tho-^o that have received that gentleman's paper.

Mr Kennedy Hill will m! 1 b\ .uu tion, .it his mart, Hamilton, on S iluul i\ week, dwellinghouse, business premises, .uid allotment (17, H mnlton West, in which they stand in Gianthamstreet, Hamilton West. A meeting ot the Cambridge Fanners' Club Annual bhow Committee is com ened b\ W.iltei .Stott, Esq., for 11 a m.on Monday next, and the usual monthly meeting of the Club will bo held at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on that da\ . Mr J. S. Ruckland's first sale in Rasjlan district in the Waitetuna Yards, Raglan, Halfway Motel, .it 1 o'clock, on Saturday afternoon, 23rd October. Mr J. 8. BuckUnd will sell the whole of Mr Ale*. Brucc's li\e .md dead stock on the property, Te R.ihu, adjoining Mr C. J. .Store) "s farm, on Wednesday ne\t at > o clock. Messrs Gee and Potter, the old established firm of coachbuilders, Auckland, make <m important announcement in our .id\<_rti^infj columns. Thl new Pure Cash Sj -.tern now being 1 initiated by G. and C. will certainly pio\e a benefit to the public. It has been .1 ijreat success in Sjdnoy .md Melbourne, and when strictH tamed out tho customer who buys at an establishment wheie tho are m.nked low to ensure a rapid sale must be .1 sjreat gainer. G. and C. sell tneir diapory milhnaiy, and clothing at sik h pru es fur c ash as tfivcs the buyer the ad\ .intakes of a shareholdei in a co-oporathe society, without the risk ot being called upon to bear aportion of the loss should the jcir'*; business prove unsatisfactoi v. Garlu k and Cranwell will aim to retain the confident c Avhith tlic publu have liithei to shown, (limn, .md ,110 detet mined togl\o thepiiro o ish system a fair trial; whether they ff.un or lose the hr^t >aar. Country bujcrs on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods .it co-operathc pnr cs ; iust the same as though they made a iktsoii.il selection. Furnishing poods, such as carpets, 1 floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general ] house furniture, the largest portion o( \v!\u \\ is j turned out at our own i.ictm\, ujss be mai'kcd at the lowest rcmunonthe prices, and a dis< omit of fi\e per cent. \v\H be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. & C h.iwnjc realised i themtne talne of thoir stoik during their late t ash s th>, the present stoi kis M w \\d c 1 r |. wi v ' nquGi^i. jyini^pn M<ii) is lumUij —(\ \k\){ )x vn^ di<\N\vhir,Cih H.ili Furnishing V"ado,Quocn'1 street, Auckland, 1